[ad_1]
Olano claims the Nigerien government is preventing it from resuming work at a large site it was licensed to in 2009
Niger’s military junta has revoked the license of French state-owned company Orano to operate one of the world’s largest uranium mines in the West African country, AFP reported Thursday.
Orano said it had been banned from entering the Imuralen mining area in northern Niger, which contains about 200,000 tons of metals used to make nuclear power plants and weapons, AFP reported, citing a press release obtained exclusively from the company.
“Orano notes the decision of the Nigerien authorities to revoke the licence of its subsidiary Imouraren SA to exploit the mine,” The company reportedly said on Thursday.
In 2009, Niger issued an operating license to Imuralen to exploit the deposit. Orano holds 66.65% of the company and Nigerien state-owned company Sopanin holds 33.35%. Mining began in 2012 but was halted in 2015, reportedly due to the drop in global uranium prices following the 2011 nuclear accident in Japan.
However, French nuclear fuel producers announced that nuclear power plant activities had resumed on June 4, with dozens of people involved. “Making progress on the work” The project is expected to employ about 800 people, including subcontractors.
The French company has been operating in Niger since 1971 and currently controls another uranium mine, Somair, in the northern region of Arlit, following the closure of the Cominak mine near Acorkan in 2021. The Nigerien government owns 33% of Somair, which began operations more than 50 years ago.
Niger is the world’s seventh-largest uranium producer, accounting for 5% of global output, according to the World Nuclear Association. In August last year, the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) said the former French colony would become the second-largest supplier of natural uranium to the EU bloc by 2022.
According to French media reports, mines in the Sahel countries are an important source of uranium for Paris nuclear reactors, accounting for 15%-17% of the uranium used in France for power generation.
Since seizing power in Niamey last July, Niger’s military regime has taken steps to review not only security agreements signed between the ousted civilian government and its Western partners, but also foreign mining concessions.
Days after the coup, the landlocked country’s new leadership banned the export of uranium and gold to France and expelled French troops, who are expected to leave by mid-September.
Olano has previously stated that despite “Security incident” This former French colony after the coup.
The French company said on Thursday “We are willing to keep all channels of communication open with the Nigerien authorities” Regarding the revocation of its mining license at the Imouraren mine.
Olano said: “The right to challenge the decision to revoke the operating license before the national or international authorities or the competent judicial body.”
[ad_2]
Source link
